NottinghamshireLive rates the signings pushed for by global head of football Edu during the summer transfer window
Nottingham Forest’s global head of football Edu (centre) at the City Ground (Image: PA)
The future of global head of football Edu continues to be in the spotlight amid Nottingham Forest’s challenging season.
A matter of months after his appointment, the Brazilian’s role at the City Ground is said to be in question. According to The Telegraph, doubts have emerged about Edu’s long-term position on the banks of the Trent.
The former Arsenal sporting director was appointed in July with the aim of helping Forest to push on. It was hoped his experience and contacts would prove invaluable as the club looked to build on last term’s seventh-placed finish.
However, things haven’t quite worked out as expected. The Reds have been battling at the wrong end of the Premier League table, are on their third head coach of the campaign and several of their summer signings are yet to really make their mark.
Recruitment falls within Edu’s remit, albeit it is a collective effort at the club. The 47-year-old is said to have pushed for three of Forest’s summer additions, in particular. Below, NottinghamshireLive delivers our verdict on how those players have fared so far.
Douglas Luiz
There is no question the Juventus loanee has quality. He showed that during his time at Aston Villa and has demonstrated it in glimpses in the Garibaldi.
Keeping him fit is another matter, though. He has been hindered by injury this term and has made just 12 appearances for the Reds.
At some point a decision will need to be made about his future. The conditional obligation to buy included in Luiz’s deal is understood to be appearance based, and if triggered would require Forest to spend €25 million (£22m) to sign him permanently. At the moment that isn’t looking like particularly good value. Rating: 5/10
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Omari Hutchinson
Since being appointed head coach, Sean Dyche has made clear he doesn’t take too much notice of price tags. He was quick to urge Hutchinson to forget about the £37.5m Forest splashed out to sign him from Ipswich Town.
That was undoubtedly a lot of money. There is an argument that the club overpaid, but the winger does look like being one for the future.
He had to wait for his chance but grasped it when it came his way. The 22-year-old has done pretty well since, although might have earned a rollicking from his manager for the cheap corner he gave away that led to West Ham United scoring in Tuesday night’s big win for the visitors in the capital. Rating: 7.5/10
Oleksandr Zinchenko
Going into the final stretch of the summer window, strengthening at full-back was a priority for Forest. Edu was said to be influential in the signing of Zinchenko on loan from his former club.
Injury has hampered the Arsenal loanee during his stint on the banks of the Trent. But when he has been called upon, he has had a fairly tough time of it.
The 29-year-old can offer something going forward, but defensively he has struggled. He wasn’t even among the substitutes for the crucial midweek game at the London Stadium. Rating: 4/10
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